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Jocketty: Sizemore changed mind at last minute

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By Mark Sheldon
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MLB.com |

CINCINNATI -- It appeared that all free-agent outfielder Grady Sizemore had to do was sign the contract and his comeback would start with the Reds. General manager Walt Jocketty seemed confident that would happen.

That was, until it didn't. Sizemore signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday. It will pay a base salary of $750,000 but could reach $6 million with incentives.

Jocketty said the Reds did offer a big league contract as well to the 31-year-old Sizemore, who hasn't played in the Majors since 2011.

"That's all I will say about it. We thought we were going to get it done," Jocketty said on Thursday morning at the 2014 Reds Caravan kickoff. "He changed his mind at the last minute. That's his prerogative."

Once a three-time All-Star for the Indians from 2004-11, Sizemore's career has been derailed by injuries -- including the need for microfracture surgery on both knees.

It appears that the Reds will not be making any big moves ahead of pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training on Feb. 14.

"There's nothing big out there to do. We're not going after any of the top free agents," Jocketty said. "We really haven't talked to anybody about trades. I don't think there will be much of that going on. At this point, I'd just assume we get to Spring Training, see what we have, evaluate what we have and make adjustments if we have to."

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.